Posted on: Wednesday, June 12, 2002

Police Beat

Shark nips board, misses surfer

A surfer escaped injury yesterday when a shark attacked his board off Kaua'i's North Shore.

Kaua'i police said the shark "got a piece of the board," but the surfer was able to safely return to shore after the 1:25 p.m. attack.

The attack occurred at a surf break about 100 to 175 yards offshore of Anini Point.

The surfer estimated the shark to be about 8 feet long.

Also, surfers at Haena on Saturday described what they called a "near miss" when they saw a shark estimated at 10 feet speed through the water toward a surfer, who was not hit.

Yesterday's attack on the North Shore was at the opposite end of the island from where 17-year-old Hoku Aki lost part of his left leg in a shark attack earlier this year.

Aki was surfing at Brennecke's Beach near Po'ipu on the south shore when he was attacked March 25.

Dead body on Kaua'i identified

Kaua'i police have identified a man found dead in a Wailua residence Monday as William Robert "Fig" Mitchell II.

Police, responding to a neighbor's request for help at 1 p.m. Monday, said Mitchell appeared to have suffered injuries but that they could not determine the cause of his death.

Police said last night that the cause of the 60-year-old man's death was still unknown. An autopsy is scheduled for today.

Kalihi Kai fire leaves 7 homeless

Seven people were left homeless yesterday afternoon when a mattress fire destroyed an apartment at 2009 Kalani St. in Kalihi Kai.

Firefighters responded to the blaze at 2:15 p.m. No injuries were reported. Red Cross officials were notified to help the dislocated residents.

A Fire Department spokesman had no damage estimate last night.

Drug raid nets 3 on Big Island

Police on the Big Island arrested two men and a woman following a raid on a suspected drug house Monday.

Police also seized 357 grams of black tar heroin valued at about $70,000 during the raid at the Wailua Road home in North Kona.

Police seized the equipment, drug paraphernalia and $3,165 in the 6:45 a.m. raid.

Two men, 43 and 46, and a woman, 40, were arrested on suspicion of promoting a dangerous drug and possessing drug paraphernalia.

Homemade bomb set off at park

A homemade explosive device was set off about 11:50 p.m. Monday at Mililani Waena Park, police said.

The device, which police said was probably made by combining black powder from fireworks, exploded in an outside sink at a public restroom and scorched a wall. Neighbors called police.

The explosion created a loud boom, but did not cause any real damage, police said. The use of a prohibited explosive device is a felony.

2 men robbed in Waikiki

Police are investigating a robbery Monday night in Waikiki in which an undetermined amount of money was taken from two men.

The victims were near their car in the area of Hobron Lane between 10:30 and 11 p.m. when they were approached by two other men who demanded money, police said.

The robbers threatened to shoot but didn't show a gun, police said.